Early prognosis

Milera will miss at least a month with damage to his AC joint sustained in last Sunday’s 73-point win against Gold Coast. He doesn’t need surgery at this stage, but the Crows will re-assess in the next 4-5 days. He will miss two months if he needs surgery. Jacobs could be back within a month after having knee surgery last week. Chayce Jones and McHenry are available this weekend after both sat out with concussion. McAdam could return in the SANFL this weekend after missing the past four weeks with a calf injury. – Lee Gaskin

BRISBANE

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Marcus Adams

Knee

1 week

Harris Andrews

Hamstring

1-2 weeks

Zac Bailey

Hamstring

1-2 weeks

Rhys Mathieson

Hamstring

1-2 weeks

Brandon Starcevich

Hamstring

4 weeks

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Decent news for the Lions with Andrews and Mathieson both expected to just miss a game or two. The long break before Saturday’s match against Gold Coast helps and both should be well in the frame to return in round seven. – Michael Whiting

CARLTON

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

David Cuningham

Bruised kidney

Test

Charlie Curnow

Knee

Test

Tom De Koning

Knee

4-6 weeks

Sam Docherty

Knee

Indefinite

Kym Lebois

Hamstring

2-3 weeks

Jarrod Pickett

Knee

Indefinite

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Forward duo Curnow and Cuningham will be monitored this week as they recover from respective injury issues. It was a good week for the Blues, with AlexFasolo, MatthewKennedy, HarrisonMacreadie, AndrewPhillips and TomWilliamson all wiped from the injury list as they returned through the VFL.– Riley Beveridge

COLLINGWOOD

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

James Aish

Concussion

Test

Flynn Appleby

Ankle

TBC

Tyler Brown

Shoulder

3-5 weeks

Lynden Dunn

Knee

Season

Will Hoskin-Elliott

Knee

Available

Will Kelly

Ankle

Available

Jack Madgen

Concussion

Test

Chris Mayne

Back fracture

3-4 weeks

Nathan Murphy

Ankle

4-5 weeks

Sam Murray

Provisional ASADA suspension

TBC

Matt Scharenberg

Knee

5-6 weeks

Brayden Sier

Undisclosed

TBC

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Aish is in doubt for the Anzac Day clash with Essendon on Thursday and fellow defender Appleby seems out of contention to replace him after hurting an ankle in the first quarter in the VFL on Saturday. Hoskin-Elliott and father-son draftee Kelly will return in the VFL, and Madgen is likely to join them. Sier didn’t play in the VFL at the weekend after sustaining a foot tendon problem and will miss at least another game. Mayne, Murphy and Tyler Brown will be out for about another month each, while Scharenberg won’t be far behind them as he comes back from a third knee reconstruction. The season seems over for veteran Dunn after a second anterior cruciate ligament rupture in nine months. – Ben Collins

ESSENDON

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Zac Clarke

Calf

1 week

Martin Gleeson

Cheekbone

1-2 weeks

Shaun McKernan

Hamstring

6-7 weeks

Kobe Mutch

Hamstring

8-10 weeks

Devon Smith

Knee

Test

James Stewart

Groin

1-2 weeks

David Zaharakis

Knee

Test

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

All eyes will be on Smith and Zaharakis after they missed last week with knee complaints but both are expected to be available to face Collingwood on Thursday. Gleeson suffered some bad luck after a heavy hit in the VFL and will spend a couple of weeks on the sidelines nursing a cheekbone injury, while the club says Clarke will be unavailable with the calf injury that saw him be a late withdrawal against North Melbourne last week.– Callum Twomey

FREMANTLE

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Hayden Ballantyne

Hamstring

TBC

Harley Bennell

Calf

TBC

Connor Blakely

Hamstring

Test

Taylin Duman

Suspension

Round 8

Stephen Hill

Quad

5-6 weeks

Shane Kersten

Foot

TBC

Griffin Logue

Hamstring

Test

Cam McCarthy

Illness

Test

Aaron Sandilands

Calf

TBC

Sam Sturt

Concussion

Test

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Blakely is a chance to come into the side for his first game this season following a long-term hamstring setback and trained on Tuesday. McCarthy was still on light duties at Cockburn after being forced out of the Giants victory in Canberra due to illness. Ballantyne is facing another stint on the sidelines after damaging his hamstring again in his comeback game at Peel, while draft bolter Sturt will be managed conservatively after suffering his second concussion this season. – Travis King

GEELONG

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Jed Bews

Groin

2-3 weeks

Nakia Cockatoo

Knee

Indefinite

Jordan Cunico

Ankle

10-12 weeks

Lachie Fogarty

Hip

Test

Lachie Henderson

Plantar fascia

Test

Brandan Parfitt

Quad

TBC

Scott Selwood

Hamstring

1-2 weeks

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

The Cats are awaiting the outcome on scans for Parfitt’s quad strain sustained on Easter Monday. Henderson, Selwood and Fogarty are all expected to be back playing at some level in the next fortnight pending training. – Mitch Cleary

GOLD COAST

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Callum Ah Chee

Quad

4-5 weeks

Brayden Crossley

Hamstring

Test

Corey Ellis

Ankle

2-3 weeks

Sam Fletcher

Quad

4-5 weeks

Sean Lemmens

Ankle

1-2 weeks

Anthony Miles

Calf

Test

Wil Powell

Concussion

TBC

Izak Rankine

Hamstring

2-3 weeks

Rory Thompson

Knee

Season

Lachie Weller

Hamstring

2-3 weeks

Harrison Wigg

Knee

Season

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Powell’s concussion against Carlton in round four was a serious one and the young wingman is no certainty to return against Brisbane on Saturday. He’ll be tested through the week. Lemmens is likely to return through the NEAFL the following week. – Michael Whiting

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Phil Davis

Ankle

Test

Brett Deledio

Calf

TBC

Jonathon Patton

Knee

TBC

Harry Perryman

Lung

1 week

Tommy Sheridan

Calf

4 weeks

Callan Ward

Knee

Season

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Davis looks a long shot to be fit for Saturday night’s clash with Sydney, but scans revealed no structural damage, so the Giants haven’t ruled him out at this stage. He’ll attempt to train on Wednesday which will be his big test. There’s good news for forwards Toby Greene (calf) and Zac Langdon (foot), who will return to the field this week. Greene is set to take on the Swans at senior level, while Langdon will return through the NEAFL. Young defender Harry Perryman has recovered from his punctured lung and will likely play reserves next week. – Adam Curley

HAWTHORN

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Grant Birchall

Calf/knee

Indefinite

Shaun Burgoyne

Hamstring

1 weeks

James Frawley

Hamstring

2-3 weeks

Ben McEvoy

Adductor soreness

Test

Darren Minchington

Hamstring

Test

Tom Mitchell

Broken leg

Indefinite

Tim Mohr

Dislocated knee/ACL

Season

Jackson Ross

Hamstring soreness

Test

Liam Shiels

Hamstring

Test

Ben Stratton

Concussion

Test

Mathew Walker

Knee

Test

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Stratton, who was a late withdrawal against Geelong, and Shiels are set to provide the Hawks with a welcome boost against Carlton. The club also allayed fears in-form ruckman McEvoy could be out for several weeks and he will play this weekend if he passes a fitness test. Burgoyne is another week off. Minchington is set to turn out in brown and gold for the first time in the VFL on Saturday, while Koschitzke, Ross and Walker have to pass tests to join him at Box Hill. – Marc McGowan

MELBOURNE

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Mitch Hannan

Knee

4-6 weeks

Neville Jetta

Knee

8-10 weeks

Jay Kennedy Harris

Leg

8 weeks

Kade Kolodjashnij

Concussion

TBC

Jake Lever

Knee

4-6 weeks

Steven May

Groin

TBC

Joel Smith

Groin

4-5 weeks

Aaron vandenBerg

Ankle

4-5 weeks

Jack Viney

Hand

Test

Guy Walker

Shoulder

Indefinite

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Melbourne’s defensive issues have been further compounded with Jetta ruled out for up to 10 weeks. The defender will have surgery on Tuesday to repair a meniscus injury that occurred in the second quarter of the game against the Saints. Viney has been cleared of any serious damage to his hand following scans. There is also a bit of mystery around May and his timeline for a return from a groin injury. – Ben Guthrie

Early prognosis

It remains to be seen whether Williams can recover in time to play in Friday night’s clash with Port Adelaide. Tyson and McKay didn’t play in the VFL at the weekend, but both are likely to play at some level this upcoming round. Wilkinson didn’t play after quarter-time for the Roos’ VFL side, while minor ailments limited Nick Larkey (illness) and Kyron Hayden (dislocated finger). Tristan Xerri (osteitis pubis) played his first game of the season in the VFL, and Taylor Garner (quad/groin) negotiated another match. – Marc McGowan

PORT ADELAIDE

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Tobin Cox

Hamstring

Test

Charlie Dixon

Leg

Indefinite

Hamish Hartlett

Hamstring

Test

Sam Hayes

Knee

3-5 weeks

Jake Patmore

Knee

Season

Jack Watts

Leg

Indefinite

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Hartlett could return in the SANFL this weekend after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury. Dixon is a longer-term proposition, with still no timeline on his return after a setback in his recovery from a broken leg and dislocated ankle suffered at the end of last season. Watts is unlikely to play again this year. He went in for a second bout of surgery on his ankle last week having suffered a similar injury to Dixon in the round two win over Carlton. – Lee Gaskin

RICHMOND

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Trent Cotchin

Hamstring

2-3 weeks

Shaun Grigg

Knee

Indefinite

Oleg Markov

Knee

5-7 weeks

Alex Rance

Knee

Season

Jack Riewoldt

Wrist

Test

Jayden Short

Elbow

Indefinite

Maverick Weller

Leg

Test

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

After an alarming swelling of Richmond’s injury list several weeks ago, it appears to be back to a more manageable level. Riewoldt is likely to play against Melbourne on Wednesday night after three matches on the sidelines with a wrist injury. Captain Cotchin has suffered a setback and isn’t expected back until at least mid-May. Grigg, Short and Markov remain long-term propositions, while Weller has now missed three weeks with a nagging leg injury. – Sarah Black

ST KILDA

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Logan Austin

Shoulder

Indefinite

Jack Bytel

Back

Season

Jake Carlisle

Back

Indefinite

Oscar Clavarino

Ankle

1-2 weeks

Jarryn Geary

Quad

TBC

Dan Hannebery

Hamstring/calves

Indefinite

Max King

Knee

1-2 weeks

Doulton Langlands

Concussion

Test

Paddy McCartin

Concussion

Indefinite

Daniel McKenzie

Concussion

Available

Lewis Pierce

Concussion

Test

Dylan Roberton

Heart

Season

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Saints captain Jarryn Geary faces at least a few weeks on the sidelines after surgery on his right thigh, where he suffered compartment syndrome. Draftee Max King could debut in the VFL in a fortnight, having joined in full training. Langlands suffered a head knock early in Sandringham’s win last Sunday. – Dinny Navaratnam

SYDNEY

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Heath Grundy

Back

1-2 weeks

Will Hayward

Jaw

4-6 weeks

Jack Maibaum

Knee

Season

Jarrad McVeigh

Quad

4-6 weeks

Daniel Menzel

Groin

Test

Sam Naismith

Knee

TBC

Nick Smith

Hamstring

TBC

Durak Tucker

Knee

Indefinite

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Menzel remains on track to play some minutes in the NEAFL this week or next in his return from groin surgery, in what would be a massive boost for the Swans’ forward woes. Zak Jones had some treatment on his hip against Richmond last week but is fine to face the Giants this week. – Adam Curley

WEST COAST

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Tom Barrass

Foot

TBC

Nic Naitanui

Knee

Indefinite

Willie Rioli

Foot

4 weeks

Jake Waterman

Hamstring

Test

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

Rioli was back involved in warm-up kicking and ran laps at training on Tuesday after a stress-related foot injury that has kept him out of the opening five rounds. Barrass is the latest victim to a foot problem for the Eagles and is looking at a lengthy stint on the sidelines after he undergoes surgery. Waterman trained fully on Tuesday and should be available. Naitanui is conservatively estimated to return after the round 13 bye. – Travis King

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Ben Cavarra

Ribs

Test

Taylor Duryea

Hip

6-8 weeks

Fergus Greene

Ankle

4-6 weeks

Buku Khamis

Knee

Test

Dale Morris

Knee

Indefinite

Matthew Suckling

Groin

2-4 weeks

Laitham Vandermeer

Hamstring

Test

Updated: Tuesday, April 23

Early prognosis

A blow to the Bulldogs ahead of a road trip to Fremantle, with defenders Duryea and Suckling ruled out for several weeks. Cavarra, Khamis and Vandermeer have all progressed to be on the cusp of selection. The trio appear likely to play in the VFL this Sunday to step up their hopes of an AFL debut. – Paul Bastin

Hey guys. Just had 2 late drop outs from one of our $50 cash leagues, so 2 spots left to fill if anyone is interested. Email me at supercoachwithdr@outlook.com if you would like a spot. Would love to get this filled! Cheers. DR

In all seriousness COVID should at least be some consideration for team composition. Spread the risk and expect outs – avoid too many players on a single team and job security is a key factor for rookie cover. Unless whole league shuts down…